113th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 2d Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe GEORGIA 2008, UKRAINE 2014: IS MOLDOVA NEXT? MAY 6, 2014 Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington: 2015 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:09 Sep 02, 2015 Jkt 095593 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 3190 Sfmt 3190 E:\HR\OC\A593.XXX A593 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HEARING g:\graphics\CSCE.eps Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202–225–1901 [email protected] http://www.csce.gov Legislative Branch Commissioners SENATE HOUSE BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, MARYLAND, CHRISTOPHER SMITH, NEW JERSEY, Chairman Co-Chairman SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, RHODE ISLAND JOSEPH PITTS, PENNSYLVANIA TOM UDALL, NEW MEXICO ROBERT ADERHOLT, ALABAMA JEANNE SHAHEEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE PHIL GINGREY, GEORGIA RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, CONNECTICUT MICHAEL BURGESS, TEXAS ROGER WICKER, MISSISSIPPI ALCEE HASTINGS, FLORIDA SAXBY CHAMBLISS, GEORGIA LOUISE MCINTOSH SLAUGHTER, JOHN BOOZMAN, ARKANSAS NEW YORK MIKE MCINTYRE, NORTH CAROLINA STEVE COHEN, TENNESSEE (II) VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:09 Sep 02, 2015 Jkt 095593 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 3190 Sfmt 3190 E:\HR\OC\A593.XXX A593 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HEARING ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Helsinki process, formally titled the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, traces its origin to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in Finland on August 1, 1975, by the leaders of 33 European countries, the United States and Canada. As of January 1, 1995, the Helsinki process was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The membership of the OSCE has expanded to 56 partici- pating States, reflecting the breakup of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The OSCE Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria, where weekly meetings of the partici- pating States’ permanent representatives are held. In addition, specialized seminars and meetings are convened in various locations. Periodic consultations are held among Senior Officials, Ministers and Heads of State or Government. Although the OSCE continues to engage in standard setting in the fields of military security, economic and environmental cooperation, and human rights and humanitarian concerns, the Organization is primarily focused on initiatives designed to prevent, manage and resolve conflict within and among the participating States. The Organization deploys numerous missions and field activities located in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The website of the OSCE is: <www.osce.org>. ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance by the participating States with their OSCE commitments, with a particular emphasis on human rights. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine mem- bers from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair rotate between the Senate and House every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work. In fulfilling its mandate, the Commission gathers and disseminates relevant informa- tion to the U.S. Congress and the public by convening hearings, issuing reports that reflect the views of Members of the Commission and/or its staff, and providing details about the activities of the Helsinki process and developments in OSCE participating States. The Commission also contributes to the formulation and execution of U.S. policy regarding the OSCE, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delega- tions to OSCE meetings. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organiza- tions, and private individuals from participating States. The website of the Commission is: <www.csce.gov>. (III) VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:09 Sep 02, 2015 Jkt 095593 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 3190 Sfmt 3190 E:\HR\OC\A593.XXX A593 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HEARING GEORGIA 2008, UKRAINE 2014: IS MOLDOVA NEXT? —————— MAY 6, 2014 WITNESSES Page Eugen Carpov, Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova, Minister for Reintegration ..................... 2 Paul Goble, Specialist on Ethnic and Religious questions in Eurasia, Editor of ‘‘Window on Eurasia’’ ................................................................................................................................ 6 Stephen Blank, Senior Fellow, American Foreign Policy Council ............................................ 10 PARTICIPANT David Killion, Chief of Staff, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ............... 1 (IV) VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:09 Sep 02, 2015 Jkt 095593 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 3190 Sfmt 3190 E:\HR\OC\A593.XXX A593 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HEARING GEORGIA 2008, UKRAINE 2014: IS MOLDOVA NEXT? —————— May 6, 2014 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington, DC The briefing was held from 12:03 to 1:34 p.m. EDT in 268, North Congressional Meet- ing Room, Capitol Visitor Center, Washington D.C., David Killion, presiding. Mr. KILLION. Ladies and gentlemen, if we could get started today with this important briefing. Good afternoon. I’m Ambassador David Killion. I’m the chief of staff of the Hel- sinki Commission and this is my first event as chief of staff, so it’s very special to me. I think this is an incredibly timely event. I want to welcome our speakers as well as our audience to this important briefing to examine Russia’s intention toward Moldova and Transnistria, its secessionist region, in the face of growing violence and instability in southeastern Ukraine. This briefing is occurring at an urgent time, as violence in Odessa, which borders Moldova, continues to escalate, aided and abetted by Russia. In fact, we heard some infor- mation indicating over the weekend that many of the individuals arrested for violently attacking peaceful demonstrators for Ukrainian unity in Odessa were actually Russian nationalists and residents of Transnistria. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities re- ported that arms found in the building where over 30 of the individuals instigating vio- lence and secession were tragically killed last Friday also originated from Transnistria and Russia. Equally concerning is the continuing lawlessness and violence across the region that’s being perpetrated against state institutions and Ukrainian citizens who do not want to see their country Balkanized, occupied or controlled by Russia. Fighting continues in Slovyansk, where pro-Russian secessionists launched violent attacks upon supporters of Ukrainian unity, occupied government buildings and held OSCE military observers hos- tage for over a week. Pro-Russian thugs shot down two Ukrainian military helicopters in Slovyansk last week, resulting in the death and injury of several military officers. Only yesterday, other casualties were added as fighting persisted between the military and pro- Russian insurgents. The destabilizing events in Odessa are occurring a little over a hundred miles from Transnistria, where Russia maintains military forces and weapons against the wishes of the Moldovan government. Along with political and economic coercion, Russia has used this military presence to impede a peaceful and lawful settlement of Transnistria for over 20 years. (1) VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:09 Sep 02, 2015 Jkt 095593 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 3191 Sfmt 3191 E:\HR\OC\A593.XXX A593 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HEARING Today, the presence of Russian armed forces on Moldovan territory, on Ukraine’s bor- ders and in occupied Crimea violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both coun- tries and aim to prevent their integration into Europe and hinder their economic and democratic development. Russia’s actions violate every core principle of the OSCE and the United Nations, as well as Russia’s obligation to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty under the Budapest Memorandum. We look forward to this opportunity to discuss Russia’s intentions in Moldova and Transnistria, and what the ongoing insecurity and conflict in the region portends for coun- tries in the southern Caucasus and beyond. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Labor Thomas Melia was not able to join with us, so we will first hear today from our very distinguished guest, Moldova’s deputy prime minister for re- integration, Mr. Eugen Carpov. Mr. Carpov has held the office of deputy prime minister of the government of Moldova since 2011. He has an extensive background in foreign affairs and has held positions in both the public and private sectors. From 2002 until 2005 he served as the Moldovan ambassador to Poland, before becoming the head of the Moldovan Mission to the European Union in 2005, a position he held until 2007. Following this, he became the chief of the International Cooperation Department of ASCOM Company from 2007 to 2008, and subse- quently was the deputy general manager of the Komet Group Corporation from 2009 to 2011. We will then hear from Mr. Paul Goble, a longtime specialist on ethnic and religious matters in Eurasia. Paul has had a distinguished career. He has served as the director of research and publications at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and as vice dean for the social sciences and